The new NBA-edition Amazon Echo Dot looks perfect for hoop heads like me

CNN

16-04-2025

I'm a simple guy. If you make something that's shaped like a basketball, there's a decent chance I'll want to buy it. Seemingly aware of this, Amazon has released new limited-edition NBA and WNBA versions of its ultra-popular Echo Dot, turning its spherical smart speaker into an all-knowing basketball that can control your appliances and answer all sorts of everyday questions.
Amazon Echo Dot NBA Limited-Edition
This special edition Echo Dot puts a basketball twist on our favorite budget smart speaker that packs all of the essential Alexa tricks for making your home smarter.
Amazon Echo Dot WNBA Limited-Edition
If you're a WNBA fan (and you should be), the Echo Dot is also available in the W's signature orange-and-white color scheme. The new hoops-inspired speakers, which are available now for $70 a pop and arrive just in time for the NBA Playoffs, simply put a new skin on the 5th-gen Echo Dot that we've loved since 2022. The NBA and WNBA versions mimic each league's respective game ball, whether you want the classic all-orange NBA rock or the WNBA's signature white-and-orange sphere. I really wish there were team-specific variations so I can add yet another piece of New York Knicks paraphernalia to my home, but the designs on offer should make them a fun pickup or gift for hoop heads.
Fortunately, beneath this sporty design lies our longtime pick for the best budget smart speaker you can buy. The latest Echo Dot does all of the Alexa things, whether you want to quickly ask for the weather, control your elaborate smart lights setup with a single command or find out when your favorite team is playing next. Amazon's latest Dot doubled as a surprisingly strong home audio speaker during our testing, and it can even double as a Wi-Fi extender for your Eero system so that you can enjoy more consistent internet throughout the home.
There's just one big bummer: at $70, the NBA-branded Echo Dot carries a notable markup over the standard $50 model that's functionally identical (and frequently goes on sale). You're essentially paying an extra $20 for an Echo Dot that looks like a basketball, when you could also put that cash towards the more functional $60 Echo Dot with Clock or the $80 Amazon Echo Spot that offers better alarm clock capabilities.
Still, if you're a diehard hoops lover that finds that premium worth it, you'll be treated to one of the best smart speakers and best Amazon devices in the game — one that's well-equipped to answer any basketball questions that might pop up when you're not shouting at your TV during a heated playoff game. Not that I would know. Go Knicks.
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each item. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been reviewing tech gadgets for more than a decade, and has no shortage of smart speakers littered around his home at any given time.